• The Village Children’s Programs held a grand opening for the new Blessed Chiara Badano Child Care Centre on Oct. 30.
  • It is located within the recently completed York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) Ninth Line facility.
  • YCDSB selected The Village Children’s Programs as the operator through a Request For Proposals process.
  • The 49 licensed child care spaces delivered through the partnership have already been filled.
  • The program is non-religious and open to the public, and a waitlist of more than 100 individuals has formed.

 

Smiling YCDSB students opened the doors for ceremony attendees entering the new Blessed Chiara Badano Child Care Centre. It is located within the Board’s recently completed Ninth Line facility, which is also home to an elementary and secondary school.

Jackie Macdonald-Bartkiw, Executive Director of The Village Children’s Programs, welcomed YCDSB Chair and local Trustee Elizabeth Crowe, YCDSB leadership, The Village board directors, Stouffville Councillor Keith Acton, school staff and administration, parents, and students to the event.

“We wish to express our gratitude to all those who played a part in the completion of these schools and this child care, gratitude to those that lobbied for years,” Macdonald-Bartkiw said. “It is very ambitious to open a child care, elementary, and secondary school, but Elizabeth Crowe and some very tenacious parents had a dream—and this hub is a testament to that dream.”

“We are fully in support of having programming for children, from infant programs straight to Grade 12,” Crowe stated during her remarks, noting a YCDSB policy to deliver child care spaces within new and existing Board facilities whenever funding is available. “We still have a huge waiting list, and we need more daycare spaces,” she added.

Crowe also voiced her appreciation for the partnership between the YCDSB, Ninth Line school facility, and The Village Children’s Programs. “I’m so glad that this is operational, and it brought joy to my heart when I came in and saw the kids playing outside.” she said.

Councillor Keith Acton expanded on growing demand for daycare services and highlighted high-quality child care as a vital component of children’s development: “We all know there is a shortage of child care spaces in the province, and Stouffville is no exception. The Village will provide much-needed spaces in a nurturing and stimulating environment where little ones can learn, grow, and thrive.”

“Today marks a significant step forward for our community,” Acton said. “As their slogan beautifully states, it takes a village to raise a child. This program embodies that spirit, creating a supportive network for Stouffville families and children.”

Founded in 1988, The Village Children’s Programs evolved into a not-for-profit offering child care, early learning, kindergarten, and camp programming. The Blessed Chiara Badano Child Care Centre is The Village’s ninth York Region location and also offers before and after-school care.

“We know how much Stouffville has been waiting for us,” Macdonald-Bartkiw said. “With our program full and a waitlist of over a hundred names, it is clear that this booming community is more than ready for top-quality, nonprofit child care spaces.”